Wildcat Betty B the Choice in Safely Kept BC

(from Laurel Park report)Grade I winner Wildcat Bettie B faces seven challengers on Saturday in the $200,000 Safely Kept Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park. The eight competitors have combined to finish in the money 45 times in 53 career starts and have 25 victories at the six-furlong distance.

Trained by Larry Jones at Delaware Park, Wildcat Bettie B has won six of nine lifetime starts including four stakes this year– the Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park, the Miss Preakness (gr. III) at Pimlico, the Prioress (gr. I) at Belmont Park and the Victory Ride (gr. III) at Saratoga. The daughter of Meadowlake, the 8-5 morning line favorite, is a perfect four-for-four at the distance. Jockey Mario Pino, who earned his first grade I victory in the Prioress, retains the mount.

"It was a tough race," said Pino, who has 5,796 career victories. "I had never been on her in the afternoon so I didn't know what to expect. She came from way out to beat a terrific field. She is a nice big filly. She really looks like a colt. She was even better in the last race and is really peaking at the right time."

Wild Gams finished a game second behind the favorite in the Prioress and won a restricted stakes for New Jersey-breds at Monmouth Park in her most recent start. Her dance card also includes wins in the New Jersey Futurity at the Meadowlands and the Cicada (gr. III) at Aqueduct where she handed Laurel-based Celestial Legend her first career loss. Ben Perkins Jr. trains Wild Gams. The daughter of Forest Wildcat will be ridden for the first time by jockey Ryan Fogelsonger.

G City Gal will represent the stable of national training leader Todd Pletcher. She's had troubled trips in three of her past four starts. The daughter of Elusive Quality finished third in the Miss Preakness after being steadied and checked, second in the Azalea (gr. III) at Calder after steadying twice and second in the Mongo Queen at Monmouth after being carried out on the turn. Chris DeCarlo, who rode her at Monmouth, retains the mount.

An intriguing possibility is Cajun Mistress, who will be making her stakes debut for trainer Steve Klesaris. The daughter of Salt Lake is undefeated this year after leading every step of the way in three allowance contests against older company at Delaware, the last two won in handy fashion. Ramon Dominguez, who was aboard the last two victories, has the assignment.

Klesaris will also saddle Coli Bear, who has tried stakes company at Saratoga and Delaware in her past two starts, finishing third both times. Rosie Napravnik will ride the daughter of Formal Dinner.

Livermore Valley won the Mongo Queen at Monmouth last time out and has finished first, second or third in seven added-money tests since leaving the maiden ranks. Jose Lezcano will ride the daughter of Mt. Livermore for trainer Jim Ryerson.